Low profile metacarpal fracture brace

Abstract

A rigid fracture brace having a rigid and non-bendable in use U-shaped member with an inner, soft-cushioned layer carried on an outer rigid layer defining an open inner cavity for laterally receiving and supporting a user's hand, adjacent to the metacarpal grouping of hand bones. The member is of high aspect ratio and is held in position by a three strap system which includes a lower thumb strap, a middle palm strap and an upper palm strap immediately below the fingers. One end of each strap is immovably fixed to the backside of the member and securement of each strap to the member includes a loop associated with each strap. Each strap further includes a two-component hook and pile fastener so as to avoid critical registration of holes and tongs. The pile component of the fastener is carried along the backside of each strap and each strap terminates with a free-end carrying the hook component of the fastener at the tip of the inside surface of each strap. The free end of each strap is adapted to be trained through associated loops of the strapping assembly. The inventive brace extends from the base of the hypothenar eminence to beyond the fifth metacarpal-phalangeal joint to support the base of the proximal phalanx of the fifth finger.

1. A rigid, non-bendable, low profile metacarpal fracture brace comprising:
 a U-shaped member having a rigid, non-bendable in use, outer layer defining an open-ended cavity having a lateral entrance for insertably receiving and supporting the ulnar portion of a user's hand adjacent to the metacarpal grouping of hand bones;  
 at-least three straps having one end of each strap fixly and non-pivotally secured to said rigid member with an opposite end of each strap terminating in a free end;  
 a buckling system carried on each of said ends of said straps secured to said member for insertably receiving said free ends;  
 a releasable securement fastener carried on said straps for securing said member to the hand of the user;  
 said three straps include a lower thumb strap, a middle palm strap and an upper palm strap;  
 said member having a rigid front'side partially covering the palm of the user's hand and a rigid backside partially covering the back of the user's hand with a curved, rigid, non-bendable section joining said front side and said backside so that said U-shaped member is defined;  
 said one end of each of said straps fixly secured to said backside;  
 said three straps wrap transversely around the user's hand.  
 
   
   
     2. The fracture brace defined in  claim 1  wherein:
 said member includes an inner surface and an outer surface; and  
 a cushion material carried on said inner surface immediately adjacent to the hand of the user.  
 
   
   
     3. The fracture brace defined in  claim 2  wherein:
 said member having a high aspect ratio and is held by said straps so as to extend from the base of the hypothenar eminence to beyond the fifth metacarpal-phalangeal joint of the user's hand to support the base of the proximal phalanx of the fifth finger.  
 
   
   
     4. The fracture brace defined in  claim 3  wherein:
 said securement fastener includes a two-component hook and pile fastener carried on each of said straps respectively avoiding prior necessity of registering of fastener components.  
 
   
   
     5. The fracture brace defined in  claim 4  wherein:
 said one end of each of said straps includes a loop for accommodating insertion of said free end for folding over upon itself to couple said two component hook and pile fastener.  
 
   
   
     6. A low profile metacarpal fracture brace worn on a hand of a user comprising:
 an elongated member of U-shaped cross-section and of a high aspect ratio and having an internal recess with an upper and lower opposite open ends joined by a lateral entrance leading into said internal recess;  
 said member composed of a hard, rigid, and non-bendable composition providing a rigid shell having a top section adjacent the back of the user's hand when worn by the user, an under section adjacent the palm of the user's hand when worn by the user and an arcuate section joining said top section with said under section, cooperating to define said recess;  
 said rigid shell having an outer surface and an inner surface;  
 a cushion material secured to said rigid shell inner surface;  
 an elongated strap means having a first end secured to said outer surface of said shell and a second end terminating in a free end with a mid-section integrally connecting said first And with said second end;  
 said first end of said strap means having at least one loop permitting insertion of said free end therethrough for folding over upon itself allowing said free end to overlap against said mid-section;  
 a two-component fastener means carried on said free end and said mid-section respectively for releasably connecting said strap means;  
 said strap means being wrapped transversely about said rigid shell and the hand of the user when said member is worn by said user;  
 said strap means includes at least three elongated straps;  
 a first and a second strap of said strap means fixly and immovably secured to said rigid shell immediately adjacent to said lower end in fixed spaced-apart relationship constituting a lower thumb strap and a mid-strap respectively;  
 a third strap of said strap means fixly and immovably secured at its one end to said shell immediately adjacent to said upper end thereof constituting a finger strap;  
 said mid-strap and said finger strap adapted to wrap about the user's hand across the user's palm and between the user's thumb and index finger with said thumb strap adapted to wrap about the lower portion of the user's thumb.  
 
   
   
     7. The fracture brace defined in  claim 6  including:
 a spaced area of soft composition carried on said mid-section of said mid-strap for positioning between the thumb and index finger of the user.  
 
   
   
     8. The fracture brace defined in  claim 7  wherein:
 said fastener means is of a non-registerable type and includes a hoop and pile fastener on each of said straps of said strap means.  
 
   
   
     9. The fracture brace defined in  claim 8  wherein:
 said rigid member insertably receives a portion of the user's hand in said recess whereby said member extends from the base of the hypothenar eminence to beyond the fifth metacarpal-phalangeal joint to support the base of the proximal phalanx of the fifth finger.  
 
   
   
     10. The fracture brace defined in  claim 9  wherein:
 said member and said shell are stiff, hard, rigid and non-bendable in use so as to avoid deformation during application of said member and said shell onto a user's's hand;  
 said straps wrap transversely around the user's hand;  
 said rigid U-shaped member includes an inner surface and an outer surface;  
 a cushion material carried on said inner surface immediately adjacent to the hand of the user and conformal therewith;  
 said rigid U-shaped member is held by each of said three straps so as to extend from the base of the hypothenar eminence of the hand to beyond the fifth metacarpal-phalangeal joint of the user's hand to support the base of the proximal phalanx of the fifth finger;  
 said securement fastener includes a two-component hook and pile fastener carried on each of said straps respectively; and  
 said one end of each of said three straps includes a loop for accommodating insertion of said free end therethrough for folding over upon itself to couple said two-component hook and pile fastener.  
 
   
   
     11. A low profile metacarpal fracture brace worn on the hand of a user comprising:
 an elongated rigid, non-bendable member of U-shaped cross-section having an internal recess with upper and lower open opposite ends joined by a lateral entrance leading into said internal recess;  
 said member composed of a hard and rigid composition providing a rigid, stiff and immobile shell having a rigid back section adjacent to and extending partially across the back of the user's hand when worn by the user, a rigid palm section adjacent to and extending partially across the palm of the user's hand when worn by the user and a rigid arcuate mid-section joining said rigid back section with said rigid palm section cooperating to define said recess; 
 said rigid shell having an outer surface and an inner surface;  
 a cushion material secured to said shell inner surface;  
 a set of three elongated straps having a first end of each strap fixly and immovably secured to said outer surface of said rigid shell and a second end terminating in a free end with a mid-section integrally connecting said first end with said second end;  
 
 at least three loops fixly secured to said shell permitting insertion of said free ends of said straps therethrough for folding over upon themselves allowing said free ends to overlap against said mid-section of each strap respectively; 
 a two-component hook and pile fastener means carried on said free end and said mid-section respectively for releasably connecting said strap means;  
 said set of straps being wrapped transversely about said shell and the hand of the user when said member is worn by said user;  
 a first and a second strap of said set of straps fixly secured to said shell immediately adjacent to said lower end thereof constituting a behind-the-thumb strap and a mid-strap respectively;  
 a third strap of said set of straps fixly secured at its one end to said shell immediately adjacent to said upper end thereof constituting a finger strap; and  
 said mid-strap and said finger strap adapted to wrap about the user's hand across the user's palm and between the user's thumb and index finger with said behind-the-thumb strap adapted to wrap about the thumb of the user.